ASBURY PARK – A city woman was charged with 16 counts of animal cruelty on Sunday for operating an illegal kennel on Monroe Avenue, authorities said.

Carmen Burke, 63, was charged after authorities seized eight dogs, including five puppies, from a Monroe Avenue home, Monmouth County SPCA Chief Victor “Buddy” Amato said. He added that Burke has been selling dogs from the home for “quite some time.”

The mother of the puppies was extremely underweight and the puppies were anemic from “severe flea infestation,” Amato said.

The SPCA vet staff is caring for the dogs, which have never been vaccinated or seen by a veterinarian, Amato said.

The 16 animal cruelty counts that Burke was charged with included failing to provide sustenance and failing to provide proper water and shelter. Burke was also charged with operating an illegal kennel.